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Successful Translocation of 70 Giraffe and 68 Zebras

Successful translocation of 70 giraffe and 68 zebras in Zimbabwe

A healthy ecosystem requires an ecological balance of flora and fauna. A severe reduction or extinction of large herbivores, predators, flora or pollinators can have cascading effects that can degrade an entire ecosystem. If the ecological balance is unstable, where certain species are not present and cannot be naturally restored, translocations can offer a solution. Translocating certain native species that have either become extinct or have critically low numbers can help restore ecological functions and revitalise the biodiversity and health of the ecosystem. Additionally, with population numbers declining across systems, especially for species that require large areas to flourish, it becomes critical to preserve population numbers when given the opportunity.

Wildlife translocations involve the intentional movement of animals from one location to another to restore populations, support genetic diversity, (at times) to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and as a sustainable way to protect wildlife in areas where it is under pressure due to the reduction in land under protection. As ecosystems face increasing threats, wildlife translocations are becoming an important tool in conservation. The Great Plains Foundation specialises in both long-term ecosystem protection and short-term emergency conservation, including translocations of critical, keystone or flagship species.

giraffe translocation
successful translocation

The team in Zimbabwe is thrilled to report that the most recent phase of Project Rewild was completed between April and June of 2024 with the successful translocation of 70 Southern giraffes. The animals were released into a conservancy bordering Hwange National Park to bolster the declining number of giraffes in the Hwange region. Alongside the 70 giraffes, 68 zebras were released into the same area. The animals were moved in 13 round trips of 1,500km each using a 30-ton truck designed specifically for translocations. On each trip the truck was operated by two drivers and a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) Ranger. This allowed the truck to drive continuously throughout the night, speeding up the trip to minimise the stress on the animals.

giraffe translocation
giraffe translocation

On arrival in Hwange the animals were offloaded into a temporary boma with access to food and water for 48 hours before being released. 30 of the giraffes were tagged with solar powered satellite unit ear mounted units to allow for two years of post translocation monitoring. The post-release monitoring objective is to gain a better understanding of their integration and dispersal into the region, their browse preferences and any mortalities post-translocation.

The project has been planned with animal welfare in mind and ethical implications carefully considered to ensure minimum impact and with all the required permissions and permits. Although fitting giraffes with ear tags raises ethical considerations, the procedure was conducted with meticulous attention to animal welfare, ensuring risks were minimized through the expertise and precision of a highly specialized project team. Ongoing field monitoring also ensures that this process is continuous.. Using the latest technology, each miniature solar-powered satellite tracking ear tag weighs 35 to 150g, less than 0.001% of each animal’s body weight.

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Author Great Plains Foundation

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